Division in the Spotlight: Space Exploration Division
February 12, 2025
Division in the Spotlight: Space Exploration Division
We are proud to recognize the amazing contributions and achievements of our teammates through our #DivisionintheSpotlight initiative, and each month, we plan to highlight one division in the company.
This month, we are highlighting our Space Exploration Division.
Meet the Space Exploration Division
For the past 50+ years, Airbus has supported NASA in many capacities, dating back to the 1970s’ development of U.S. human spaceflight ambitions.
Primarily located in Houston, Texas, and Denver, Co., the Space Exploration Division is led by Kris Kuehnel and is currently comprised of 21 personnel.
Today, the division is focused on pushing the boundaries of space innovation and works on several human spaceflight programs out of Houston, including astronaut training at NASA Johnson Space Center; development, testing and hosting payloads on the Bartolomeo platform on the International Space Station (ISS); and as a partner in the Starlab Space LLC joint venture for a next-generation space station working on the Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) program.
Additionally, Airbus is a major industrial partner to the European Space Agency (ESA), providing the European Service Module (ESM), a key component of the Artemis program powering the Orion capsule. Airbus U.S. provides on-site integrated test support in Denver, Co., for this important mission.
Here are four takeaways from our conversation with Kris Kuehnel and his team.
1. What is the primary mission of your division?
Airbus U.S. Space Systems is comprised of two divisions: National Security Space and Space Exploration.
The National Security Space division features our ARROW platform and services for the Department of Defense and our classified customers.
The Space Exploration division focuses on the Civil Space market, emphasizing U.S. and international human spaceflight programs. For over 20 years, we have successfully supported NASA, ESA, and the U.S. commercial aerospace community.
2. What are some key projects your division is working on?
Space Exploration is engaged in a number of projects, but here are a few highlights:
We continue to support the Bartolomeo and ArgUS multi-payload platforms, both of which are currently operating on the International Space Station (ISS). Bartolomeo, launched in 2020, hosts multiple external payloads, while ArgUS, launched in 2024, enhances surveillance and imaging capabilities.
Our team, along with our European colleagues, played a significant role in the development of Bartolomeo and continues to support its payload activities. We also fully developed, launched, and operate the ArgUS payload platforms, with the capitalized ‘US’ underscoring our US contribution.
Additionally, we’re building a strong team in support of Starlab, a next-generation, AI-enabled commercial space station designed to replace the ISS by the end of the decade. With its advanced, user-driven design, Starlab will be a premier platform for scientific discovery and technological advancement in space for decades to come.
Through our activities on the European Service Module (ESM), we support NASA’s goal to return humans to the Moon. Planned for 2026, Artemis II will carry four astronauts around the Moon, marking the first crewed mission in NASA’s plan to establish a long-term presence on the Moon for science and exploration through Artemis.
3. What makes your division unique?
“Space Exploration, and specifically Human space flight, is kind of unique. Missions, programs and projects may change, but they are all carried out under the umbrella of a continuous human presence in space,” said Kris Kuehnel. “I think this gives our teams an identity beyond the company we work for or the project we support – it provides a link with the past and looks to the future, and the teams reflect that in their sense of purpose and esprit de corps. Human spaceflight is more than just engineering — We’re helping shape the future.”
4. What’s the team most excited about for the future?
We’re looking forward to hosting our next batch of external payloads on the ISS and completing our Compasso hardware development– the 3rd in a line of Airbus U.S. designed, developed, and manufactured external payload platforms.
Most notably, we’re excited to leverage our experience to ensure Airbus U.S. Space & Defense plays a significant role in the future development and operation of Starlab. This multi-billion-dollar endeavor will shape the future of space exploration for decades to come.
